The Mendon-Upton School Committee voted this week to certify a $29.7 million budget for fiscal year 2015.

The committee approved the budget, which represents a $1.1 million, or 4 percent, increase over last year's $28.6 million total, after a public hearing Monday night. The budget would increase the assessment on Mendon by $165,000 - to $7.2 million - and on Upton by $34,000 - to $8.6 million.

In addition to the increased assessments, the district will be using $700,000 from its excess and deficiency fund - money carried over from the previous year - to defray the cost of the budget.

District Superintendent Joseph Maruszczak led a presentation about the particulars of the budget. He said he felt the proposal reflects the district's values.

"At the current moment, we have 2,466 students. We're projecting a decrease of 28 students next school year, based mainly on live birth data," he said. "We have 163 full-time educators and, over the last few years, we've made progress with our instructional staff - we've gained 12."

Maruszczak said the district still had about 20 fewer educators than it did before the recession, and that it continues to have critical instructional needs.

According to Maruszczak, the 2015 proposal represents a level-services budget with a few additional investments in the district's technology and athletic programs. He said the district would be looking to hire a technology integration specialist.

"The role of that person would be someone who spends time at Nipmuc (High School) and Miscoe (Hill Middle School), working with the teaching staff on the 1:1 iPad initiative," he said, adding that this person would help advise teachers on how to integrate the tablets - which are provided to each student - into the curriculum. "We see this as a key, key role supporting our 1:1 initiative."

The budget also increases spending for technology infrastructure and the district's athletic fees.

Maruszczak noted that the fees to participate in Mendon-Upton sports were higher than those of neighboring districts, saying it was a disadvantage at a time in which the district must compete against other educational options.

"We're adding $70,000 to the athletic line item at Nipmuc," he said. "This would lower fees by $50 per sport and, more importantly, implement a family cap."

Mike Gleason can be reached at 508-634-7546 or mgleason@wickedlocal.com. For news throughout the day, follow him on Twitter @MGleason_MDN.